水肺潛水活動通常發生在水深不超過 120 英尺。在 250 英尺，在這樣的
深度由於變化而引起的高壓力空氣變得有毒 。對於那些做深海研究的人員，
他們經常使用潛水鐘，幹潛水服，和其他類型的深海勘探船。在這些用具中，
以避免空氣毒性效應會使用高度氦飽和環境。

氦釋放閥是為長時間在氦飽和環境中配戴手錶的工作人員而設計 。由於氦
是最小的原子，在高氣／水壓中它會滲入手錶的密封件。如果將手錶停留
在這樣的環境中的一個較長的時間，氦將繼續滲透到手錶，直到手錶內的
空氣壓力（最初表面的空氣壓力）平衡環境中的氣壓。

This becomes a problem when the vessel is brought back up and depressurized. The helium which seeped into the watch over a couple of days, cannot seep out any faster. The excess pressure inside the watch needs a way to release faster than it seeped in. It is only in this situation that a watch needs a helium relief valve at all. If a relief valve was not on the watch, the excess pressure would likely escape by pushing the crystal out.

WARNING: unless you are in this exact situation, you should never keep this valve open. While the watch is designed to maintain most of its waterproof abilities even when the valve open, it still serves no purpose and increases risk of damage to the watch to do so.